Graphical user interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of switching desktops on a computer comprising the steps of:
- displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying images on said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface uses a representation of a polyhedron, such as a cube (44), having images on each face (46) for representing multiple desktops used in conjunction with an operating system. By pressing on faces of the cube (44), the computer switches to the selected desktop (42). The cube (44) may be rotated to allow the user to select from an unlimited number of desktops (42).
253 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A method of switching desktops on a computer comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying images on said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
displaying rotation objects proximate said representation of said polyhedron; and
rotating said representation of polyhedron responsive to user interaction with said rotation objects.
-
-
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of displaying rotation objects comprises the step of displaying rotation objects responsive to the user locating a cursor proximate said polyhedron.
-
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of displaying images comprises the step of displaying user selected images on said faces.
-
7. The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of capturing an image to be displayed on a face of said polyhedron responsive to the user defining an area on said screen.
-
8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of moving an icon from a current desktop to another desktop responsive to the user dragging the icon from the current desktop to a face of said polyhedron.
-
9. A method of controlling a plurality of desktop configurations on a computer comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying images on said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
displaying a current desktop represented by a predetermined one of said faces; and
interactively maintaining said desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computer comprising
a display; -
processing circuitry for;
executing a plurality of applications;
displaying a plurality of desktops, each desktop having an associated set of icons related to said applications;
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the display;
displaying images on said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
displaying rotation objects proximate said representation of said polyhedron; and
rotating said representation of polyhedron responsive to user interaction with said rotation objects.
-
-
21. The computer of claim 20 wherein said processing circuitry displays rotation objects by displaying rotation objects responsive to the user locating a cursor proximate said polyhedron.
-
22. The computer of claim 17 wherein processor circuitry displays user selected images on said faces.
-
23. The computer of claim 22 and wherein a selected image is defined by capturing an image to be displayed on a face of said polyhedron responsive to the user defining an area on said screen.
-
24. The computer of claim 17 wherein said processor further moves an icon from a current desktop to another desktop responsive to the user dragging the icon from the current desktop to a face of said polyhedron.
-
25. A method of switching desktops on a computer comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying a single image on each of said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces.
-
-
26. A method of controlling a plurality of desktop configurations on a computer comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying a single image on each of said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
displaying a current desktop represented by a predetermined one of said faces; and
interactively maintaining said desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces.
-
-
27. A computer, comprising:
-
a display; and
processing circuitry for;
executing a plurality of applications;
displaying a plurality of desktops, each desktop having an associated set of icons related to said applications;
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the display;
displaying a single image on each of said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces.
-
-
28. A method of controlling a plurality of desktop configurations on a computer comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
displaying a single image on each of said faces, each image associated with a respective desktop;
displaying an active desktop represented by a predetermined one of said faces concurrent with said displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces shown on the computer'"'"'s display; and
interactively maintaining said desktops responsive to user interaction with said faces.
-
-
29. A computer, comprising:
-
a display; and
processing circuitry for;
executing a plurality of applications;
displaying a plurality of images on a polyhedron, each image representing a respective desktop, each desktop having an associated set of icons related to said applications;
displaying an active desktop represented by a predetermined one of said images concurrent with said displaying a representation of a polyhedron having a plurality of images shown on the computer'"'"'s display;
changing desktops responsive to user interaction with said images.
-
Specification